Pappu Yadav expelled from RJD, may join hands with BJP

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP and Bihar strongman Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years for anti-party activities, setting off speculations that he would be joining either the BJP or a splinter group along with former chief minister Jiten Ram Manjhi.

“Pappu Yadav has been expelled from the party for six years for indulging in anti-party activities,” RJD Chief General Secretary Ramdeo Bhandari said. Another former MP of the party Jayprakash Narayan Yadav said that Pappu Yadav’s ouster had been important as “he was seen hobnobbing with BJP, while our leader Lalu Yadav has been fighting communal forces.”

Pappu Yadav, however, refuted the charges. “I have been thrown out just because I stood up against Lalu's efforts to promote his sons, which was his way of ensuring his political legacy would not eventually go to a leader like me who works for the benefit of the people,” he said. He defeated JD(U) president Sharad Yadav from Madhepura in the 2014 polls and is a fifth term MP from the state. He had earlier told ET that he was exploring a tie up with Manjhi.